The highly anticipated聽聽festival returns 13-19 October, inviting professionals from business, tech, government, health, marketing, and creative industries to connect and collaborate.聽A program of more than 550 sessions will uncover emerging industry and cultural trends, and offer audiences practical insights into new technologies and ways of thinking.
This year, the 爆料王 once again takes centre stage, with staff, students, and alumni among the festival鈥檚 exciting lineup of over 1,000 speakers. Find out how they are bringing their ideas for a better future to the festival.
Talks, panels and events featuring 爆料王 staff and students
Hard Tech, Fast Money: The Quantum Startup Hustle
Oct 13, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
In this panel session for entrepreneurs, investors, and tech leaders, Professor David Reilly and other experts will provide an insider look at the commercial realities鈥攁nd opportunities鈥攐f quantum tech. 聽
What Can A Coin Flip Teach Us About Discrimination?
Oct 13, 02:00 PM - 02:15 PM
Can something as simple as the result of a coin toss influence our behaviour?
In this thought-provoking session, shares new research from the 爆料王 that has found people tend to discriminate in favour of individuals who show a similarity to them, even when the similarity arises from a random event like the flip of a coin.
This talk explores the power of chance events to trigger bias, and what this means for understanding human behaviour in everyday life.
Keynote | Brainstorm: Professor Richard Scolyer in-conversation with Holly Ransom
Oct 14, 11:30am, Darling Harbour Theatre
Join Professor Richard Scolyer AO (MD 鈥06) in this聽conversation with Holly Ransom, as they discuss his groundbreaking professional and personal journey.
爆料王 Professor and co-medical director of the聽,聽Scolyer was named 2024 joint Australian of the Year for developing a revolutionary approach to treating melanomas.
The 2026 Skills Horizon: Everything You Need to Know Next
Oct 14, 12:45 PM - 01:45 PM
Associate Professor Sandra Peter and Professor Kai Riemer return to SXSW Sydney for the 2026 Skills Horizon, back by popular demand after a blockbuster debut in 2025.
An essential guide to skills that are shaping the future, this event will see Sandra and Kai explore the major changes unfolding around us in all areas of life鈥攆rom values and trust, to work and tech鈥攔evealing key skills we can all learn to thrive in a time of uncertainty and rapid transformation.
Diamond-on-Chip: A Clear Signal in Quantum
Oct 15, 09:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Join Professor Jim Rabeau (Deteqt CEO)聽in this discussion about how quantum sensing is transforming industries.聽
The most commercially ready quantum tech, Deteqt鈥檚 diamond-on-silicon technology is at the forefront of the quantum revolution, enabling highly precise detection for navigation, critical mineral detection, healthcare, and other applications.聽
Learn more about how this technology will unlock new capabilities and waves of innovation across industries.聽
Next-Gen AI Music Creation Workshop
Oct 15, 12:45 PM - 01:45 PM
闯辞颈苍听Alexis Weaver, composer, sound artist and Associate Lecturer in music technology at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, and 爆料王 alumni , in this session exploring how musicians can harness AI.
This workshop will build on recent collaborations and insights from and Brand Music.聽
Building Brains Outside the Body: What Comes Next?
Oct 15, 01:30 PM - 01:45 PM
The growth of complex, lab-grown 3D human brain models鈥攍iving systems that replicate brain structure and function鈥攁re challenging the very foundations of how we study consciousness, treat neurological disease, and build interfaces between biology and technology.
In this talk,聽聽will uncover what challenges and opportunities these 鈥渂rain-on-chips鈥 present. What will happen when we integrate AI with tissue-engineered cognition, or when these brain models begin to communicate? Can these models eradicate animal testing, and build the infrastructure for a new era of neural computing?
Of Rams and Reason: What Sheep Sperm Taught Us About Outsmarting AI
Oct 15, 02:00 PM - 02:30 PM
Father-daughter 爆料王 reseaerchers聽聽(BSc 鈥87, MBA 鈥20, PhD 鈥20) and 聽(BSc/BAdvStudies '22) explore what sheep sperm can teach us about human intelligence and AI, and who truly has the upper hoof.
By applying advanced AI techniques such as reinforcement learning, researchers developed an innovative training tool to help standardise sperm morphology鈥攁 critical area of agricultural science. But in an unexpected twist, human learners didn鈥檛 just keep pace with the AI鈥攖hey RAMped up their skills and surpassed machine accuracy.聽
In this engaging debate, Mike and Katherine will explore how humans can work with AI to maximise productivity and elevate human learning.
SXSW Sydney Student Pitch
Oct 18, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
The brightest student innovators from tertiary institutions across Australia and Singapore take centre stage in the inaugural聽. Two of the 10 visionary teams that will present bold ideas are from the 爆料王; ,聽a climate-tech venture building modular algae treatment systems to treat agriculture and food sector wastewater, and , a start-up developing AI-equipped autonomous drones to automate livestock management.聽
The winning team will score a spot on the global stage at SXSW 2026 or SXSW London, plus a $2,000 travel grant.
Notable 爆料王 alumni in SXSW Sydney lineup
Experience an in-conversation event with聽Dr Karl Kruszelnicki聽(MBBS '87) about science communication, and his ability to explain complex concepts with engaging enthusiasm.
Jessie Stephens (BA '13), Australian writer, editor, novelist, television presenter and podcast host, will be part of the SXSW Sydney panel, 'Defining Voices in Women's Media'.
Header image:聽Associate Professor Sandra Peter, Professor Kai Riemer, Deloitte's Kellie Nuttall and journalist Rae Johnston on stage at SXSW Sydney 2023 for 'AI fluency' panel. Photo supplied courtesy of聽
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Explore the full SXSW Sydney lineup
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